Manchester City are reportedly planning to hand Stefan Ortega Moreno a new deal.
The Etihad number two has just finished his first season at the club, following a free transfer last summer.
City picked Ortega up, after his contract with relegated Arminia Bielefeld expired.
It was a move that raised quite a few eyebrows at the time. No one in England had heard of the 30-year-old.
But 14 appearances later, Ortega is now seen as perhaps the best back-up goalkeeper in the Premier League.
The star has given Ederson – with whom he has a great relationship – a brilliant push, and always looks solid when he’s come in for the Brazilian.
And now, City are looking to reward Ortega in the form of a new deal with a pay rise.
Man City ready to hand Stefan Ortega a new £85,000-a-week deal
According to The Sun, Ortega is now primed to received a new £85,000-a-week contract from City.
That is apparently a rise of £20,000-a-week. Ortega has two years remaining on his current contract, and City would add another year along with his pay rise.
Ortega has supposedly made a really big impression on the Etihad coaches since joining.
And he’s also really pleased Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard said of his number two in November after a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Chelsea (mancity.com): “The club made an incredible signing. He is an exceptional goalkeeper in all departments with the ball and with his feet.”
It is mentioned by The Sun that Bayern Munich ‘remain big admirers’ of Ortega and apparently there have been murmurs in Germany that they could make a bid this summer.
But City are reluctant to lose him, hence the plan to hand him a new deal.
Stefan Ortega is a perfect back-up goalkeeper for Man City and a new deal for him would be brilliant news
So it looks like Ortega could be about to cap off the season with a new deal, as well as three trophies.
He deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done this term.
Ortega arrived at City and was presented to fans alongside Erling Haaland, who obviously got all the attention, and Julian Alvarez, who fans were also very excited about.
There was hardly any hype or expectations with Ortega.
But he has been brilliant in his first season when called upon. And the recruitment team deserves massive credit for finding him and bringing him in.
Every time he plays he looks assured. He may be a little slower on the ball than Ederson. But he is arguably as good a shot-stopper and his own distribution is great. He certainly showed that in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
And he’s given Ederson a really good push since his arrival, which just makes him just the perfect back-up.
Hopefully, there will be confirmation from the club soon on that new deal.
